i think the benefits place can tell u exactly what youd get either way? my neighbor said her benefits statement didn't have the survivor amount on it she had to call and ask specifically

After reading through this thread, I'd suggest scheduling an appointment at your local SSA office if possible. For complex situations involving survivor benefits and optimal claiming strategies, speaking face-to-face with a claims specialist is often more productive than phone calls. Bring as much documentation as possible: your husband's death certificate, both SSNs, marriage certificate, recent tax returns, and employment information. These appointments can be booked through the SSA website or by phone, though waits for appointments can be 2-3 weeks in some areas.

my aunt said she just took whatever they gave her and later found out she could of gotten more money if she waited!!! dont trust what they tell you at first!!!

To answer your follow-up about finding advisors who understand Social Security: Look for financial advisors who have the RSSA certification (Registered Social Security Analyst) or who specifically advertise Social Security claiming strategies as a specialty. Many CFPs (Certified Financial Planners) now focus on this area too, since it's become such an important part of retirement planning. You can also try the National Social Security Association website to find an advisor. Regarding contacting SSA, when my husband passed away, I did need to provide his death certificate. I called the main SSA number after trying for days, but kept getting disconnected. That's when I found Claimyr, which finally got me through. The 20-minute wait was so much better than the constant busy signals I was getting before.

WAIT i just realized something!!! Was your husband already collecting disability before switching to retirement??? Because that changes EVERYTHING about how they calculate this!!!

After reading through this thread and your responses, I'm confident the SSA made the correct determination, but they failed to explain it properly. Based on the numbers you've shared, your husband's PIA is likely around $1,300, which exceeds 50% of your PIA ($1,065). Even though his actual payment is reduced to $935 because he's claiming early, the spousal benefit calculation still uses the PIA amounts. I'd recommend requesting a detailed breakdown of both your PIAs from SSA and the spousal benefit calculation so you fully understand the determination.

Just went through this with my husband. I was so confused about the spousal benefit thing too. My sister in law told me to just wait until my husband filed but I didn't listen and now I'm getting way less than I could have. Definitely do your math carefully!!

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I think our next step is to get the exact benefit amounts from SSA and then run the calculations for different scenarios. It sounds like there's no simple answer - we need to look at our specific numbers and situation. Really appreciate all the responses!

One more important thing to consider: Even though your benefits are reduced if you exceed the earnings limit, you actually get credit for those withheld months later. Once you reach Full Retirement Age, SSA will recalculate your benefit and increase it to account for the months when benefits were withheld. Many people don't realize this - it's not a permanent loss, but more like a temporary reduction.

jus wanna say all these rules r why i waited till my FRA to start collecting. didnt wanna deal with all this complicated stuff. ss system is nuts

My friend's husband died last year and she got survivors benefits at 60 without any earnings test! why is that different from retirement?

When I had to figure out my strategy, I made a spreadsheet comparing different scenarios. Have you run the numbers for: 1) Claim at 62 + part-time work, 2) Work full-time until 63 or 64 then claim, and 3) Work until FRA? Each year you delay claiming increases your benefit by about 7-8%. It's really a math problem specific to your situation.

Maybe he already has his own my Social Security account set up??!! I would log into the existing account using his email and the "forgot password" link. If he gets a reset email then BOOOM problem solved!!!

Update us once you get this resolved! I'm curious which of these solutions works for you. Online account access is really important for monitoring benefits and tax documents, so definitely worth getting fixed before he starts collecting benefits.

Just to add - make sure when you call back that you specifically ask about your status in the SPOUSE'S BENEFITS application queue, not just "my application" generally. The SSA reps handle so many different programs that being specific helps them check the right system. Also, have your husband's Social Security number handy as they'll need it to look up your spousal benefit eligibility. You might also want to note the name of the person you speak with and request a confirmation number for the call as documentation.

One more thing to understand: The "top-off" spousal benefit (getting the difference between your benefit and half of your spouse's) requires that your spouse is already receiving their retirement benefit. If your spouse is only receiving SSDI but hasn't converted to retirement benefits yet, that might cause confusion in the application process. Just something to check if the representative seems confused about your eligibility when you call back.

congrats on being divorced for 10 yrs lol! my ex and i split after 9 years and 10 months so i dont qualify for a penny of his ss. talk about bad timing!

Based on all the comments, here's a summary that might help: 1) You can apply for divorced survivor benefits at age 60, 2) Your benefit will be reduced for claiming early (about 71.5% of the full amount), 3) The earnings test will reduce benefits further if you're working and earning above $22,750, 4) You'll need marriage certificate, divorce decree, and possibly your ex's death certificate, 5) You have options to switch between survivor benefits and your own retirement benefits later to maximize your lifetime payout. I'd recommend calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 about 3 months before your 60th birthday to schedule an appointment and confirm what documents you'll need.

My mom had 2 exs too and she got a really raw deal from SS!!! They wouldn't let her claim on dad's record even tho they were married 11 yrs because some paperwork issue with the divorce decree. MAKE SURE all your documents are perfect because they look for ANY reason to deny claims!!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to gather all my documentation (marriage and divorce certificates for both marriages) and try to speak with someone at SSA who can look at all three potential benefit amounts. I appreciate the tip about Claimyr since I've been struggling to get through on the phone. It sounds like I need to wait until my Full Retirement Age to get the maximum ex-spouse benefit, and there's no advantage to waiting beyond that point if I'm claiming on an ex's record. I'm relieved to know I don't need to contact either ex-husband about this process!